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Christians join London nightlife
Christians in Kingston in London have gone to the centre of the local nightlife as part of their ministry, says street pastor Teresa James
Everybody who lives in southeast England knows that a great place for a good night out is Kingston upon Thames. My friends and I like to be where all the action is so we always meet in the town centre, right in the heart of where all the clubs and pubs are to be found. Over the weeks we have got to know a lot of the clubs' door staff and we know where to get the best chips at two in the morning.
But it's not in bars or pubs that my friends and I have been meeting, but at Kingston United Reformed Church. And I am not a young clubber, but an older Christian volunteer who goes out with Kingston’s street pastors.
Street pastors are teams of men and women, but mostly women over 50, who patrol the streets on weekend nights offering help to those who need it.
We observe, greet and smile at people, and answer lots of questions, for example: What's a street pastor?; Who are you?; Why are you out at this time?; How much do you get paid? - voluntary?!
We pick up bottles - potential weapons - and direct people to the station, bus stop, licensed taxi pick up points.
We dissuade girls to get in unlicensed cabs or ensure they are not plagued by hovering men trying to take advantage of them. And we calm the distressed, perhaps if they have become separated from their friends or have argued with their boyfriend.
Sometimes we need to call for the police and an ambulance and then wait until they arrive. Over the course of 25 weeks we attended 41 conflict situations. We also observe and often by our presence diffuse potential conflicts until groups disperse, or a bus comes!
Good neighbours
The street pastors scheme was piloted by Ascension Trust in 2002, in response to neighbourhood problems in Brixton, south London.
Local churches in Kingston, including our Kingston United Reformed congregation, became involved in March 2006. Two of the four organisers are from Kingston United Reformed Church, which as part of its contribution to the scheme donates the use of its premises, conveniently located opposite one of the big clubs and near to most of Kingston’s other night spots.
The majority of people pastors meet give a positive, warm and encouraging response; people are rarely negative or abusive. They may think we are mad, but they usually thank us.
“We hope we are challenging their view of the church”
We hope we are challenging their view of the church. We have had loads of conversations; people who've nothing else important or urgent to do at 2.30am have time to chat. But we are not there to preach, or even to talk about God, unless the subject is raised. We have had several quite deep conversations.
After each evening I always feel that we were useful – even if the effects cannot be scientifically measured and some we will probably never know. We are simply there to care and listen, bringing and keeping peace.
Reform magazine
13 April 2007
